Wasserman Schultz Introduces the TIME for Holocaust Survivors Act

Washington, July 30, 2019 “Holocaust survivors have endured the worst of human atrocities and deserve special care for the duration of their remaining years.”

(Washington D.C.) – U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) has introduced the Trauma-Informed Modernization of Eldercare (TIME) for Holocaust Survivors Act, legislation which would help ensure that the roughly 80,000 Holocaust survivors now living in the United States can get access to the specialized care and services that are tailored to their unique health needs.

“Holocaust survivors have endured the worst of human atrocities and deserve special care for the duration of their remaining years,” said Wasserman Schultz. “My district has among the largest populations of survivors in the country. The trauma and grief that these survivors endured is unimaginable. The TIME for Holocaust Survivors Act can tend to that unique pain in this closing chapter of their lives, and allow them to live out their remaining years with dignity.”

“The survivors of the Holocaust are a living testament to the indomitability of the human spirit,” said Rep. Donna Shalala (FL-27), who co-led the bill. “We have a duty to ensure that those who lived through the horrors of the Holocaust are cared for in their old age. This bill would bring us closer to making sure that the specific needs of these survivors are fully met.”

“As victims of the very worst of humanity, Holocaust survivors deserve devoted care and support to address the horrific trauma they experienced,” said Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21), who also co-led the bill.  “Many of these survivors call the state of New York home and depend on the full embrace of our communities for comfort in their elder years. This bipartisan legislation will ensure we are able to care for the specific needs of the many Holocaust survivors living across the United States.”

The TIME for Holocaust Survivors Act designates survivors as a group with a significant social need within the Older Americans Act, and creates a portfolio within the Administration on Community Living to take responsibility for Holocaust-related issues.

The legislation also promotes technical assistance and training for nonprofits that serve older adults still experiencing the long-term consequences of this historic trauma. In addition, TIME ensures that nutrition services through the Older Americans Act meet the special dietary needs of Holocaust survivors and others.

More than 300 national, regional and local nonprofits from every state in the union have endorsed the TIME for Holocaust Survivors Act.

“It is our duty to honor and assist Holocaust Survivors who experience unique trauma and health concerns directly related to their experience during the Shoah,” said William Daroff, The Jewish Federations of North America’s Senior Vice President for Public Policy. “We applaud Representative Wasserman-Schultz for her leadership in introducing this bipartisan bill that will demonstrably improve the lives of Holocaust Survivors across the nation.”